Monday, September 3, 2012

*Entered a science career (translation: Did as my family expected)
*Noticed that almost all of my friends were artists (translation: admired their talent and their commitment to their passion; blindly wished I had skills)
*Took literature courses at a nearby college after work (translation: Wanted to write but too self-conscious - took reading and studied writers instead)
*Took a local writing workshop - stopped writing when the course ended (translation: who would read this, who didn't get paid to do it?)

"An artist cannot fail; It is a success to be one."Charles Horton Cooley

*Early married years took travel pics - album after album with no pictures of me (translation: I always held the camera)
*Had kids late in life/got divorced (translation: No time for the arts)
*Kids left for college - BOUGHT A CAMERA THAT WEEK

*Signed up for adult school to find out what aperture meant (translation: I need to understand what I'm doing here)
*Found a large photography store with classes and speakers (translation: the beginning of an obsession)
*Found one particularly good teacher and signed up for a destination workshop
( translation: Uncharacteristically, left my comfort zone and took a risk)

"Chance favors the prepared mind" Ansel Adams

*Found Shutter Sisters on line - Evenings I poured through the variety of images on a theme
*Went back to the destination workshop 3 times, and began taking photo day trips with the gang. (translation: found my tribe, as 4 of us returned each year)
*Began to qualify for shows, and send to magazines.(translation: Joy in the work overcomes worry about reactions)

It's emerging - Dare I say it?

*Joined Prompt Addicts with several Shutter Sisters' friends
(translation: found my on-line tribe)
*Destination teacher suggests that we have become "a salon" and takes our groups' relationship to the next level of collaboration
*Around the same time, I am invited to start a collaborative blog with some fellow Prompt Addicts
(translation: my passion for photography has blossomed into a life full of photography; and now I get to write too)

I am happy(translation: I am finally doing what I was meant to do)

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." Thomas Merton

P.S. I am taking a wonderful on-line course called Behind the Scenes. It is taught by Kim Klassen and Xanthe Berkeley. Our first assignment was to create a timeline of our journey. I hope I can pay it forward by inspiring you to follow your path.

What an inspiring journey. You make the reluctant artist in me want to stand up and cheer. You have found your bliss and it is encouraging to know that there is a path to get to what you dream of. Brava!

Carol, this is sooooo wonderful! Very similar to my journey (except for the writing courses), at least the online part of it. Finding people who "get it" and who you can share your passion with, whether it's online or in person, is so important. Every day I am thankful to have found them and all of you. I so wish you were going to be at Oasis. Start planning now so you can come next year. Love the photos you used to illustrate your story, especially the one of you looking so happy behind your camera.

I love seeing the evolution. You have always been so positive and inspiring and encouraging. Thanks for the details and I love the idea of doing a time line. I will be doing one... :) just not sharing.

Carol - Wonderful, fabulous, inspiring, entertaining ... did I mention wonderful? ... post! Love that you shared your timeline here. It's always so fun to see how sister artists have evolved ... because we all have. I absolutely loved Behind the Scenes and paid to have extra access to it so I can keep going back to review what I thought I learned but have forgotten. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Kim and Xanthe and I know you will, too. I can't wait to hear from you about it. I'm currently doing Sparkle with them and have Round Trip coming up. Did I mention that I love working with Kim?

And, Carol, I love working with you and being part of your online tribe. We will meet in person ... soon!

You guys are just wonderful with your encouraging comments! Sometimes it helps you see yourself in a different light. I would never have used "brave" - I was just looking, looking - one foot in front of the other. But I enjoyed the process of looking back, and I so love that I'm here with you all right now. You wonderful "life sisters" and you wonderful "blog readers" are just the best. You've all made my day!

Fantastic, just fantastic! I took that class a few months ago (behind the scenes) and loved it! I loved seeing your timeline....I think many of us share a similar path! So glad you are on this journey together....and glad to be part of the tribe!!

Carol this was just a fantastic post, loved it! I always find it so interesting what drives people to not only pick up a camera but feel passionate about it. I think that when we can all get together we should do a "tribal" photo full on with tribal war paint!! lol xo

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